Astenon, a temple dedicated to the gods of the Holy Kingdom.
Although it is not high enough to be seen from anywhere like the Panthea Palace in the center of the capital, it is built on high enough ground that you have to climb 100 stairs to enter.
Unless you climb up the cliff, you must take the stairs to enter the entrance.
Security was always tight as entering the temple required mandatory inspection.
However, Astenon’s security, which was strictly maintained every day, was relaxed a little today.
Late night. Electricity flowing through the armor of the Paladins.
Puzzle!!
As they fall unconscious from the sudden attack, Flake secretly moves them aside and quickly rushes inside.
‘The security is really as lax as he said?’
The commotion that started in the palace sent the entire city into an uproar. A situation where priests from the Holy Kingdom flocked in all at once.
This was a golden opportunity, as interest in Astenon had disappeared due to the fire that occurred in Panthea.
Flake, who had taken care of the priest at the entrance at the end of the stairs, took the priest’s uniform and changed his clothes.
Except for the entrance, the perimeter was loose. Not only was there no one coming at this time of night, but no one came to the temple except to pray.
‘good… … .’
A huge rectangular interior space. Very high ceilings and ornate decorations. Huge pillars stand on both sides, and at the center end stands a stone statue depicting the image of a gigantic god.
And a golden spear in the stone statue’s hand.
‘found.’
It was the ‘Spear of Raman’, a holy object that Flake had been looking for.
Jeopuk, Jeopuk… … .
At that time, the sound of slow footsteps was heard from the quiet sanctuary of the temple.
“hmm… … . “There is no priest like you among the priests of our temple.”
A priest wearing a square white biretta came out from behind a pillar with a kind smile.
“… … .”
The priest waits for Flake’s answer with narrowed eyes. Flake realized that the priest had discovered his identity and immediately raised his magic power.
“What did you do with the priest who guarded this place?”
“I killed it.”
“this… … .”
A priest with a very sad face, closing his eyes and putting his hands together in prayer.
Flake did not miss the opportunity and immediately threw down his magic power.
[Flame Filler]
A pillar of fire rose from the floor and covered the temple. Flake’s eyebrows furrow as he wonders if the ending was too easy.
The pillar of fire has disappeared and the priest is standing there unharmed. Flake twisted his lips at that sight and gathered blue thunderbolts in both hands.
“Kick, that’s fun.”
A beam of electricity extends from the left hand, bouncing around on the ground, ceiling, and pillars, distracting the priest’s gaze and aiming for the back.
It’s so scary!!
At the same time, the sphere of electricity fired upward spreads out like a net and hits the priest.
[Holy Shield]
As the priest put his hands together and unleashed his divine power, the protective shield surrounding him held on, blocking the thunderbolt.
Wow!!
Meanwhile, the flake that bounced off the floor passed by the priest and ran towards where the stone statue was.
“Khahahahaha! Raman’s spear is mine-.”
[Spear of the Holy Lion]
Golden divine power erupted from Raman’s spear, which was almost within reach, and an identical spear came out and stabbed Flake.
Kaang!!
Flake deflected the spear blade by mixing the wind with his shield, rolled to the ground, landed, and looked forward.
A blonde man walked out from behind the statue.
“There’s really an intruder here?”
Cardinal Justin, who has a strand of bangs on his head, looks at Flake with an interesting expression.
“What’s your relationship with Aston?”
Dozens of priests and paladins walk to the entrance of the temple and block the place.
“As… Turn?”
Flake’s face twisted when he heard that name.
* * *
The red-haired Osilia goes inside, pushing away the gathered priests.
“Move!”
“Are you here! “Your Majesty the Cardinal.”
The Holy Knights blocking the entrance to Panthea Palace all greet Osilia.
A fire in the palace suddenly broke out. In addition, it was said that there was continuous vibration as if a loud battle was taking place inside.
“Rem said you had to stop anyone from coming in because you had to catch Ethan?”
“Yes that’s right.”
Osilia, who frowned at those words, hardened her expression and went inside.
No matter how much Rem ordered, no one could stop Osilia, a cardinal like him.
“Don’t stop me! It’s a name. Follow me.”
The priests who followed Osilia entered the palace at once.
“You guys follow me, the rest of you go to the second floor.”
“yes!”
A fire broke out in the audience hall. If it was powerful enough to ignite the walls of the palace, it was clear that Rem had used his own relic.
“her… … .”
When we arrived at the scene, the inside was a complete mess. The walls have turned black from fire, the ceiling and walls have holes, and even the traces of divine power remain here and there.
“It looks like a fight broke out here.”
“I know.”
As she answered nervously, she found Inferno stuck on the ground in the distance.
As she got closer and gently placed her hand on the inferno, the flames began to burn violently.
She immediately withdrew her hand, her expression hardened, and she became lost in thought.
‘The fact that Inferno reacts so sensitively means that a tremendous amount of power has been used… … .’
Who would be the enemy that would engage in such a fierce battle with Rem?
“This… , Sword marks?”
Traces of sword marks remained between the blackened walls. Upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem like a 1:1 fight.
‘One of them used a great sword. The other one is a long sword… … . ‘Who the hell is this?’
Osilia, who was checking the scene, went outside along the gaping wall.
Faint footprints left behind. There was a small mixture of blood and ashes.
‘Did he run away this way?’
Judging by the traces, two people ran away. Considering the scene of the fight, which saw at least four people, it is clear that two people were defeated and captured.
Osilia followed the trail. And as soon as we left the palace, the traces disappeared completely.
“under! “This sh*t.”
He hits the wall and curses.
“Do you think you can get away with doing this in Panthea? “If I get caught, I won’t let you go.”
As if her anger can’t go away, she hits the tree again and goes back inside.
“… … .”
Shortly after she disappeared, two people came down from the tree next to them.
It was Aston, who still couldn’t hide his pale complexion, and Basil, who had two unconscious people on either side of him.
“I know a place. “Go there.”
“Are you okay? “Your complexion doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s okay.”
Aston put on his holy power and ran to the back of the palace, and Basil followed him.
Because it was night, there were not many people, and all attention was focused on the entrance to the palace, so it was easy to get out.
After moving around for a while, the two entered Aston’s secret location and relaxed while holding Rem and Arad in their restraints.
“The divine power has been sealed, so even if it wakes up, it won’t be able to escape.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“By the way, where is Ren Argen?”
“… … .”
Aston closed his mouth and glared at Basil. He asked about Ren’s whereabouts and helped himself, but he didn’t know if he could tell this person Ren’s location.
‘Even if Arad and Rem are at full power, they are a strong force that cannot be defeated. Why is such a strong man looking for Ren?’
Basil, reading Aston’s expression, chuckled.
“Are you worried about Ren? hahahaha!! “It seems like I’m definitely on Ren’s side.”
Basil was also suspicious of his opponents. Ren didn’t directly say that Aston was on the same side.
I heard that it was Aston Cash who came alone to help Brilliant. To begin with, the rumors about him were far from betrayal or false acting.
‘He’s not that different from the rumors. ‘I can see that they don’t give in at all even to me, whose skill level is clearly different.’
Rather than feeling bad, I actually feel more satisfied. Ren’s ally is such a trustworthy person.
“I haven’t introduced myself yet. It’s Basil. “At one time, he was even called the King of Mercenaries.”
“… … “Mercenary King?”
Aston’s eyes widen. And the vigilance became even stronger.
It was strange that the mercenary king, who had not heard any news for several years, suddenly appeared and looked for Ren.
“I was close to death. But Ren saved me. So I decided to go under that guy. Ah, I guess I shouldn’t call him that guy anymore.”
“… … “How can you believe that?”
“Hmm, if you’re in this situation right now, Ren probably isn’t particularly relaxed either.”
Basil had no idea what was currently happening in the Holy Kingdom. However, there was a sense I had acquired through countless mercenary jobs.
Judgment and insight. The flow can be inferred to some extent just from fragmentary traces of the situation.
He did not become the king of mercenaries simply through force. If I hadn’t had timely judgment and intuition that penetrates the core, I would have died somewhere before I even got to this point.
“If I were the enemy, I could kill that person right here and wake those two up and find Ren. No, wouldn’t it be okay to just kill his colleagues in Decane and make them come find him?”
“… … .”
“Ren is my lifesaver. And he is the lord I will serve from now on. If Ren is really in danger, please let me know. “Please.”
It was logical persuasion. Not only that, but the unwavering eyes, the calm voice, and the earnest emotions contained therein.
Aston sensed the sincerity of Basil’s words and nodded.
“I don’t know my current location. “But there is a meeting place where we can meet after work.”
“Where is it?”
“I will give you a map. Even if I tell you, you won’t know the location.”
Aston took out a map from a drawer, marked the location, and handed it to Basil.
“Ren… , please.”
“Don’t worry.”
Basil, carrying a map and a great sword, moved toward the meeting place.
* * *
“You damn bastard!”
Red blood staining the sanctuary of the temple. Cloth and corpses are strewn everywhere.
“Oh, this unholy power…” … .”
The priest with a white face muttered softly as he looked at Flake holding Raman’s spear.
“Kihihihi! “It’s your fault for letting your guard down.”
Although he was smiling leisurely, Flake’s appearance was also speechless.
The left ear and below the left knee were cut off and were lying on the ground. However, in return for throwing away his body, he took Raman’s spear and fatally wounded Justin.
“Ha, I don’t know why you covet a holy object, but what more do you think you can do with that body?”
Justin, who was standing healing his bloodied body with divine power, laughed.
Although the holy relic was taken away by a completely unexpected blood magic, the opponent was already in a dying state. The outcome of the fight was virtually decided.
“This is what makes these priests of God so funny. “Kkkkkk.”
Flake, who kept laughing as if he was going to die because they were so funny, picked up Raman’s spear and lightly brushed the blade with his finger.
“I don’t even know what power the god’s weapon they believe in has. Like a lifeless body. “Kick.”
As Flake said that, a red light flashed in his eyes.
At the same time, the atmosphere changes completely. A strong current swirling around Raman’s spear and a magic circle engraved on the floor. A stream of blue water flows from the spear and instantly envelops the flake.
“I’ll eat well.”
Hwii profit! Wow!!
Two streams of water shot out like whips, bringing Flake’s ears and legs off the floor, attaching them to his body, and covering the joints.
“Holy relic… “You’re using ?”
To be exact, it was to absorb the power contained in the holy relic, but to Justin and the priest, it seemed like he was using the original power of the holy relic.
“sh*t.”
[Spear of Divinity]
The golden spear blade that Justin hastily summoned from the ceiling struck the top of Flake’s head, but the stream of water surrounding him formed a circle and blocked the spear blade.
Kuddeuddeuk!!
“… … “Where did a guy like that come from?”
It was incomprehensible that such an unheard-of person would appear and use a holy relic that no priest in the Holy Kingdom had ever used.
“Justin, we are not in a good condition to deal with a wizard who uses Raman’s spear.”
“I know. sh*t. But you can’t run away either.”
At that time, a powerful torrent caught the senses of the two people.
I’m so sorry!!!
The lightning blade rushing from the entrance becomes a flash of light and flies towards Flake.
Wow!!
The thunderbolt lightly pierced the curtain of water rising from the floor and cut off Raman’s right arm holding the spear.
Tuk.
‘You pierced that curtain in one go?’
Justin looked at the entrance with startled eyes. A man with gray hair, flashing gray eyes, and holding a green sword was walking, sparks flying on the ground.
“I admit it. You are a great guy. “I didn’t know that you would defeat the cardinal and take away the holy relic.”
Ren twisted the corner of his mouth and spoke with an exclamation.
“wren… Arjen… … !!”
Flake, with red, bloodshot eyes, chewed and spit out his name.